Given I arrived at 12.45 for a 1pm start, it was surprising to learn that we only had 5 players present for our away fixture at Dulwich, who are top of the league. Jack once again showed off his organizational skills, tasking half the team to retrieve kit from RCC without any keys.
Luckily for us, he did win the toss and bat.

Ted and Craig opened against a bustling opening attack. I felt fairly professional sat on the raised terrace watching some serious cricket with the ball comfortably carrying to shoulder height. That is until Badger began listing all the different Wagner’s (Niel x2, X-Factor, the militant group, and the composer). I suddenly felt very Roehampton. The chat was ended by a ball leaving Ted from back of a length (debatably) catching his edge and carrying through to the keeper, bringing Waheed to the crease at 15 for 1.

The next hour can only be described as an exhibition of batting. Flowing cover drives, pulls for 6 from length and manipulation of the field at will. Their skipper admitted after the game that during this period, he’d wondered if we’d swapped with the prem side on the adjacent pitch. The score quickly racked to 113-1 from just 18 overs.

Absolute brain-splosions prevented both batters from a likely 3 figures. First Waheed running at a quickish left arm orthodox and spooning it to mid-on just after telling Craig he’d see it out to drinks. Then Craig catching a top edge off a long hop through to the keeper for a well made 67.

Tom and Sam continued the good work, sweeping and nerdling a variety of spinners to a spread field. The terrace was once again settling into some slightly bizarre chatter when Sam pushed it to short mid-off and ran, making it 3/4s of the 22 yards required. Sam’s excuse was that he isn’t as quick as he once was…no s**t.

164-4 became 175-7, but a strong wag of the tail meant we set a very respectable 238 all out from 46 overs on a pitch that was ‘doing a bit’.

Jaime and I opened up and we were on the attack early. Their strength is within the top order, who have scored good runs all season, so early wickets were a must.

I got the first two wickets, the first with wobble-seam nip backer and the second with a ‘rapid’ short and wide one, taking the edge through to Jack. The second wicket proceeded to tell my friend on the side, he was gutted to get out to such poor quality of bowling (cheers mate). All the while, J.Menderson looked very threatening from the bottom end, getting a richly deserved wicket as he pinned no. 3 in front.

The intensity in the field was brilliant. Summarized by Badger rushing from mid off to collect and throw to the bowlers end to surprise the non-striker backing up. Luckily for us, the throw was so bad, Rubel, who was backing up, spilled it prompting an attempted run. Rubel turned, gathered, and threw (think Flintoff 05) to the striker’s end, knocking down off stump and removing their best bat.

Craig and Rubel continued to apply the pressure after a change. Craig is a slight cheat code, beating the bat with regularity, especially on a pitch such as that. The pressure was unrelenting, and we continued to chip away at the middle order. Craig somehow finished his 10 over spell with just the one wicket. He was then visibly distraught after Badger, who had replaced him, picked up a wicket with his second legal ball, a rank long hop pulled to short mid-wicket.

The game was wrapped up quickly thereafter. We had a few beers with the oppo who seemed decent lads before going back to the club for some more.

MOTM. Craig: Being alright at cricket.
DOTD. Me: Was facing the wrong direction for a ball. Generally being in the wrong position multiple times. Being off the field to sort my dog out. Etc.